Streetwise

It really struck me just how young these kids are. Even when they act tough you can see just how much is an act and how vulnerable they are, how clearly our society is a failure if we can't take care of these kids. For many of them you can sense their chances of success slowly dwindling away and it's just heartbreaking. From a filmmaking perspective the access the director got is impressive, not just an honest glimpse into a subculture but a glimpse a bit further into their individual realities.

Depiction of the hopeless lives of children victimised by social, familial and political neglect. Given the limited number of participants, it is rather shocking that, apart from those that died from other causes such as suicide and AIDS, at least three of those shown here were later murdered (Lulu stabbed in 1985, Roberta strangled by Gary Ridgway in 1987, Patrice shot by a dealer in 2017): aside from all the economic and other disparities, there is also a vast inequality of violence.

A nightmare that's only gotten worse. Homeless kids today are not hanging out listening to the Talking Heads, you know how depressing it is to be homeless and turn a trick to Imagine Dragons? Shocked at some of the language these kids say, they all talk like bullies in 1950s Maine. Interested to rewatch this with the commentary later to see just how depressing it got

Powerful and poignant depiction of street kids thrown into a vicious circle of neglect and destitution from which it is difficult - if not impossible - to emerge. A difficult watch made even more so, not by the harsh realities those kids have to face everyday, but rather the at times bittersweet moments - such as Tiny and Rat confessing their love for each other - that allow for the occasional glimmer of hope to shine through. Essential viewing.

32 years later, this is still a difficult watch. These kids just never had a chance, whether it be because their father is in jail, or that they have an alcoholic mother who thinks their sex work is "just a phase". The documentary deals with everything in such a frank manner, and never shies away from the difficult stuff.

I wish the filmmakers could've done a "Hoop Dreams" treatment of Seattle's downtown street kids by following them for several years. You'll want to know what happens to everyone in the movie, and the answers are difficult to come by - perhaps that's a mark of its greatness. Also fascinating to watch for 80s fashions and downtown 80s Seattle (it's cleaned up a bit in the last 26 years).

A good and earnest collection of Portland destitutes -- despite all the guys being scam artists and all the girls being prostitutes, there's still a diversity in style and temperament between them all, and it's fascinating to witness young people who grew up quick. A bit too all over the place to begin with, but becomes more solidified as it goes on. I'd been meaning to watch this since I heard parts of it sampled in The Avalanches' excellent album Wildflower.

Manages to pull off a doc on street kids and not seem preachy or judgemental. Man, Seattle has changed in the last couple decades.

Little kids dealing with things they don't understand, or with things they understand all too well.

Powerful record of the very, very shitfucked lives of some very, very young people.

Fascinating little documentary about kids getting Darwinated

i love this film, but it's worth noting that many of the subjects consider it to have been exploitative and not really made with concern for them in mind, and also that many of them believe that rat was a plant by the filmmakers as he'd never been seen on the streets before filming started. seems to be a lot of bitterness there about how tiny and rat were cushy with the filmmakers and everyone else was left to rot.

Much like "Dark Days" (though "Streetwise" predates it by 16 years), this film is a real eye-opener. It makes you think about how good you may have it compared to the kids in this film. Some kids have parents that are dead, in jail, or simply don't care, and some are 14 year old prostitutes who need fast, "easy" money.

Unreal. Raised or abandoned by those not much more mature than themselves, dehumanised and subsequently invisible to the people of Seattle and its government, drug abuse, prostitution, adopting the narrative, spewed by those powerful men wanting ever more, of abortion implying the murder of babies, among other things, make for a brutal watch.

Bell's access is incredible. In the intimate footage, the camera is often an unobtrusive bystander both on the streets of Seattle and when the (too) young interview subjects interact with their family and their friends. And the dramas that play out will make your heart bleed for some of these kids.

Excellent.

Truly unbelievable, absolutely essential documentary.

Apparently being streetwise means being really really dumb. Some of the kid's stories are truly heartbreaking, but most of them are just the product of constantly making poor choices. Regardless of all that, the filmmaker never takes sides, and it makes for a very satisfying documentary on a troubling subject.

The ability to mix in humor that is inherent in kids with their devastating circumstances gives Martin Bell's documentary life beyond just showing poverty. The streets of Seattle in the early 80s are fascinating and littered with character after character that have rich personalities.